Proper facial contouring: from A to Z

Facial contouring is revolutionary when it comes to getting a picture-perfect appearance. It’s about knowing how to accentuate your natural features and achieve a well-proportioned, sculpted look—it’snotjust about makeup. Knowing the fundamentals of contouring can significantly improve the way your face feels and looks, regardless of experience level.

Applying makeup is not the only step in the facial contouring process. The secret is to know when and how to use them to draw attention to your best features and cast shadows where necessary. With the right methods, you can add a radiant glow, define your cheekbones, and slim your nose. It’s similar to painting a canvas, only your face is the canvas, and the effects can be remarkably life-changing.

We’ll go over all the fundamentals of contouring in this guide, including the supplies you’ll need and the methods that can help you look polished at home. We’ll go over everything, from the fundamentals to more complex techniques, so you can feel good about your appearance and contour with confidence like a pro.

Step	Description
1	Choose the right products for your skin type.
2	Apply primer to smooth the skin and create an even base.
3	Use a foundation that matches your skin tone.
4	Highlight areas like the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
5	Contour by applying a darker shade to define the cheekbones and jawline.
6	Blend well to avoid harsh lines.
7	Set the makeup with a light dusting of powder.
8	Add blush to the apples of your cheeks for a natural glow.
9	Finish with a setting spray to lock in your look.

Dry or cream? Choosing products for facial contouring

Face contouring comes in two primary varieties: the first uses products with a dry texture, while the second uses cream. What distinguishes them from one another?

Dry contouring

This kind of sculpting is done using dry products, like blush or powder, as the name implies. Typically, brushes are used to apply them. Because they are the easiest to apply, powder products are best suited for girls with oily skin because they create a matting effect.

• The main rule to follow when using contouring powder is this: apply it after you have finished with cream textures.
• Before using contouring powder, be sure to powder your face with regular powder. Otherwise, the dry sculptor will “stick” to the foundation on the skin and spread in spots.
• Despite the fact that sculpting powder is ideal for oily skin, there are several nuances to consider when using it. So, in the case of oily skin, the highlighter should be either matte or satin finish: the shining particles will look like an oily sheen. We wrote more about how to use a highlighter if you have oily skin here.
• If you think that the powder looks too dark or thick on your face, spray your face with a refreshing spray.

• If you need to emphasize your cheekbones, it is better to choose blush in cool shades. If your own cheekbones stand out quite strongly and, conversely, the task is to “smooth out the corners”, warmer tones will suit you.
• How to determine the area to which blush should be applied? Very simple: focus on the shape of your face. For girls with an oval face, it is enough to apply the product to the apples of the cheeks.
• If you have an elongated face, apply blush in horizontal lines (along the hairline in the center of the forehead, under the cheekbone and further towards the ears, distribute a little on the chin), and if you have a round face – vertical.

© possibly bellline

The most common thicker products used for cream contouring are foundation, corrector, and contouring sticks. Although cream products work best on dry skin, they now make cream sculptors that have a matte finish, which is perfect for oily skin.

But if makeup application is not your strong suit, it is preferable to use powder as cream is harder to blend.

• These two products have the thickest consistency, so you should be especially careful when shading them. Otherwise, they will look unnatural on the skin. The easiest way to blend a pencil or stick is with a cosmetic sponge, but you can also do this with your fingers.
• Keep in mind that thick cream products highlight skin imperfections and flaking, so they may not be suitable for problem skin.

In the absence of a specific sculpting product, you can achieve the same effect by using a liquid corrector that is one or two shades lighter or darker than your skin tone.

• Everything is clear: why do you need a contouring palette?
• 6 beauty tricks for invisible contouring
• The best contouring brushes

How to choose a shade of a sculpting product?

Just like with foundation, your natural skin tone should be your main consideration when selecting a sculpting product. Additionally, depending on why you require it.

When using a light sculpting product to "highlight" a specific area of your skin, the shade you choose should be one or two shades lighter or one or two darker than your natural skin tone.

Use a sculptor in your shadow’s color for the sub-cheekbone area. The sculpting powder should ideally be the same shade as your shadow.

Select the paler of the two options because a darker sculpting powder will make the skin appear dirty.

The sculpting product’s undertone ought to coincide with your skin’s undertone. If not, you will notice that the sculptor will appear like dirt on your skin if you have cool-toned skin and it contains warm orange pigments.

Avoid using sculptors that are overly dark or orange if you have fair skin. Gray-brown is the best choice for you.

Bronzer can be used in place of powder on skin that is tanned or dark. However, be sure that it is free of shiny particles so that it doesn’t mimic a "shadow" on the face.

A dark sculptor with reddish pigments works well on very dark skin, but in general, you can get away with using just one highlighter in this situation.

Highlight the parts of your face that catch the most light, such as the bridge of your nose, the middle of your face, the upper line of your cheekbones, and the center of your chin.

Again, take into account the undertone of your skin: if it’s pink or reddish, you should use a silver highlighter; if your skin is olive-tinted, use a golden one.

Enhancing your natural features with the appropriate methods and supplies is the foundation of proper facial contouring, and this guide will take you step-by-step through the entire process. We’ll go over the fundamentals of contouring, from selecting the best products to applying them for a flawless, sculpted look, whether you’re a beginner or looking to hone your skills. Prepare to become an expert at contouring and effortlessly highlight your best features.

Contouring brushes

What characteristics should a contouring brush have, and when is it most helpful? Let’s solve it together!

Applying blush with a soft, fluffy brush will be helpful when working on the subcheekbone area. Using a brush, lightly apply a small amount of bronzer or powder sculpting product to the skin, blending it in thoroughly.

Although spreading cream or liquid textures with a sponge is more practical, a kabuki brush with a straight cut can occasionally be a great substitute. When applying the product, pat it on and make sure it’s well blended.

The easiest way to apply dry highlighter is with a wide fan brush, which will guarantee a translucent layer and an even application.

For the most accurate application, you can also use a synthetic bristle flat eyeshadow brush to apply creamy sculpting products. Using an eyeshadow brush with a slightly pointed tip is the most convenient way to "wield" it.

Contouring sets and palettes

Generally, a single shade of sculpting product is insufficient to achieve proper contouring. Furthermore, the color of the skin varies with the seasons, so even in August, when the sculptor accentuated the cheekbones to perfection, the skin appears too dark in September.

Beauty brands make the process easier by releasing multi-shade contouring palettes that are specifically made to address various issues. The product in this instance may be either a cream or a powder.

The basic palette consists of at least two shades: a light highlighter that can be used to draw attention to specific areas and a dark sculptor that helps to "sharpen" facial features and create natural shadows on the skin.

Palettes that are more "advanced" have eight distinct shades that can be combined to create any desired color.

If we’re talking about a cream sculptor, it can also be used in place of a concealer or corrector because the palette is bound to have a shade that works. Color blocks are another feature of some palettes that are helpful for color correcting flaws.

How to do facial contouring? Step by step

See our photo and video instructions to learn the subtleties of contouring.

Contouring with a creamy texture

Every girl can benefit from this basic facial sculpting scheme, which also includes comprehensive video instructions.

First, the skin on the face must be adequately prepped before contouring can begin. Apply a base for makeup that is both moisturizing and primer to the skin, or combine a foundation and a regular moisturizer and apply the mixture all over the skin. Cover up pimples, minor redness, "bruises" under the eyes, and other skin imperfections if needed.

Regarding the cultivation technique, there are two main rules that are worth adhering to.

The first piece of advice is to lighten the remaining areas and darken everything that needs to be "hidden." The application sequence is crucial as well: utilize the highlighter first, followed by the dark sculptor.

• For cream correction, choose a shade one or two tones lighter than your skin.
• Give preference to a highlighter with a matte or satin texture. The one with shimmer is not suitable for contouring.
• If you don’t have a highlighter, use a light corrector or concealer one or two tones lighter than your foundation instead.
• Apply the highlighter to the bridge of your nose, the center of your forehead and chin, and your cheekbones. Also add a little product to the corners of your eyes and under your eyebrow.

A sculpting product with a dark color should have two to three tones less pigmentation than your typical one tone. Apply it under your chin, on your cheekbones, along the hairline, and around the edge of your forehead, where your cheeks meet the hollows of your eyes.

Throughout the entire contouring process, this step is crucial. The intended effect of a chiseled face will undoubtedly not be achieved if the lines separating the highlighter and the dark product (or foundation) are extremely obvious. Using a sponge or brush, shade the lines while angled partially toward the mirror. To ensure that your face is free of any remaining unclean streaks, start by applying light shades of mascara before moving on to darker ones.

Shade the dark sculptor in the area beneath the cheekbones using the following scheme: first, horizontally, and then, slightly upwards.

Use blush (it will add volume to the cheeks lost during the contouring process) to keep the face from looking unnatural. Next, dust your face with a thin layer of ordinary powder.

Contouring with a dry texture product

Use our easy-to-follow video instructions to achieve the proper contouring with a powder sculptor.

Want to try a truly unique makeup look to lift your spirits? Like Alina Fly Cloud, a beauty blogger, try clown contouring.

Ready-made contouring schemes for face shape

Every face shape has a different contouring pattern. Select yours and look over the specifics. By the way, you can use even the most unlikely items to assist you with this technique – like ordinary scotch tape!

Contouring a round face

For girls with round faces, highlighting the sides of the face is crucial. Make use of only matte products.

Apply a sculptor that is two to three shades darker than your skin tone all over your face, including the sides of your forehead. It will appear slightly narrower as a result of this action.

Under the eyes, in the shape of an inverted triangle, apply a shimmer-free highlighter to the middle of the forehead and chin.

Contouring an oval face

A girl with this kind of face should focus especially on cheekbone contouring.

Highlight the area above the cheekbones, in the middle of the chin, and from the temples to the eyebrows. Go here for an oval face contouring scheme that is more in-depth.

Contouring a square face

The key for girls with square faces is to make their features softer.

Contouring problem areas

If you need to address a local issue, such as enlarging your lips, defining your cheekbones, or narrowing or widening your nose, "full-fledged" contouring is not at all required.

Contouring the nose

• To visually shorten the nose, apply a dark corrector to the very tip.
• A dark corrector will help narrow the nose a little: apply it on the sides and blend it well.

The upturned tip can be "lowered" by using the following technique: In accordance with the diagram below, draw a line across.

• To make a “potato nose” look more sophisticated, highlight the bridge of your nose with a highlighter and apply a dark highlighter to the sides and wings of your nose.

• If you have a hump on your nose, apply a little dark highlighter directly to it to make it less noticeable.

In our video, look for additional tips that will help you visually make your nose look smaller:

Lip contouring

• To quickly make your lips look bigger, apply highlighter to the “tick” above your upper lip and in the center under your chin.
• Outline your lips with a pencil in the color of the shadow – brownish: before your lipstick or right over your lipstick. They will look more voluminous there.

• To get lips like Angelina Jolie’s, draw a line in the middle of your lower lip with a dark pencil (try to create the effect that your lower lip is so voluminous that it even casts a shadow). Also draw a perpendicular line in the center of the lower lip with the same pencil – as if there is a small “dimple” on the lip. Apply lipstick or gloss on top.

© Nyx Cosmetics

Cheek contouring

You can easily add more expression to your cheekbones with contouring. From the top of the ear to the region just below the cheek, draw a dark line. Recall that the hue ought to diminish.

More than just a fad, facial contouring is a means to accentuate your inherent beauty and craft a look that is wholly original to you. Gaining a balanced, attractive appearance and showcasing your best features is possible with a basic understanding of contouring. Understanding how to work with light and shadow will be crucial, regardless of whether you’re going for a dramatic transformation or a subtle improvement.

Always remember that practice and experimentation are the keys to successful contouring. Since each person has a unique face shape and set of features, what works for one person may not work for another. Start with the basics, such as selecting the appropriate goods and equipment, and then modify methods in accordance with your requirements and tastes.

Remember that contouring is a creative and enjoyable process. There are only suggestions that can assist you in getting the look you desire, not strict guidelines. Accept the journey and relish learning about what gives you a sense of self-assurance and beauty. You can become an expert at contouring and incorporate it into your beauty routine with a little practice.

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